Typical Project Timeline
Day 1: Prep (4-6 hours) - Cleaning, taping, patching, priming
Day 2: First coat (3-4 hours) - Cutting in and rolling
Day 3: Second coat (3-4 hours) - Final coat and cleanup
Total: 2-3 days for average room (200 sq ft walls). Add 1 day for dark-to-light changes.
Essential Tools
Affiliate Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. We only recommend products relevant to this project.
Industry-standard 25ft tape measure with BladeArmor coating,...
View Product (paid link)ANSI Z87.1 certified anti-fog polycarbonate safety glasses w...
View Product (paid link)Gold-standard multi-purpose work glove with synthetic leathe...
View Product (paid link)Professional-grade 48-inch level with 6061 aircraft aluminum...
View Product (paid link)Compact folding retractable utility knife with twin blade de...
View Product (paid link)Best-selling professional 9-inch roller frame with quick-rel...
View Product (paid link)Phase 1: Planning & Materials
1Calculate Materials
Measure room dimensions and calculate paint requirements before shopping.
What You Need:
- • Wall area (length × height of each wall)
- • Subtract doors and windows
- • Account for texture (+30-40% if textured)
- • Add 10% waste factor
- • Use our calculator →
2Select Paint & Sheen
Living Areas
- • Walls: Eggshell or satin
- • Trim: Semi-gloss
- • Ceiling: Flat
Bathrooms/Kitchens
- • Walls: Satin or semi-gloss
- • Trim: Semi-gloss
- • Ceiling: Satin (moisture areas)
3Determine Primer Needs
Always Prime:
New drywall, bare wood, stains, dark-to-light color changes
Spot-Prime:
Patched areas, repairs (prevents dull spots)
Skip Primer:
Previously painted walls in good condition, similar color
4Gather Tools & Supplies
Essential Tools:
- ✓ 9" roller frame & covers
- ✓ Paint tray & liner
- ✓ 2" angled brush
- ✓ Painter's tape (blue or green)
- ✓ Drop cloths
- ✓ Ladder/step stool
- ✓ Spackle & putty knife
- ✓ Sandpaper (220-grit)
Helpful Extras:
- • Extension pole for roller
- • Edger tool (for beginners)
- • Paint can opener
- • Stir sticks
- • Rags & cleaning supplies
- • TSP cleaner
Phase 2: Surface Preparation
Critical: Prep is 70% of a Quality Paint Job
Professional painters spend more time on prep than actual painting. Rushing prep guarantees poor results.
Step 1: Clear the Room
- • Remove all furniture if possible
- • Move remaining furniture to center and cover with plastic
- • Remove outlet covers and switch plates
- • Take down curtains, rods, pictures, nails
Step 2: Repair & Patch
Fill Holes & Cracks
- • Nail holes: Spackle or lightweight compound
- • Cracks: Joint compound
- • Large holes: Patch kit + joint compound
- • Let dry completely (2-4 hours minimum)
Sand Repairs
- • 220-grit sandpaper for spackle/compound
- • Sand until flush with wall surface
- • Wipe dust with damp cloth
Step 3: Clean Walls
Paint adheres poorly to dirty, greasy surfaces. Clean walls ensure proper adhesion.
Cleaning Process:
- 1. Mix TSP solution (1/4 cup per gallon warm water)
- 2. Wash walls from bottom to top (prevents streaking)
- 3. Rinse with clean water
- 4. Let dry 24 hours before painting
Alternative: For lightly soiled walls, use mild dish soap solution or deglosser.
Step 4: Tape & Protect
Taping Technique:
- • Use painter's tape (blue or green)
- • Press edges firmly to prevent bleed-under
- • Tape baseboards, trim, ceiling line
- • Don't leave tape on more than 7 days
Protection:
- • Canvas drop cloths (not plastic - slippery)
- • Plastic sheeting for furniture
- • Cover floors completely
- • Tape plastic over doorways to contain dust
Phase 3: Priming (If Needed)
Primer Application
1. Tint the primer - Ask paint store to tint to 50% of final color (for dark-to-light) or gray
2. Cut in edges - Use 2" brush on corners, ceiling line, trim (3" band)
3. Roll walls - Use appropriate nap roller for texture. Work in 4'×4' sections
4. One coat sufficient - Unless covering severe stains (may need 2 coats)
5. Dry time - Wait 2-4 hours minimum before topcoat (check label)
Phase 4: Painting
Paint Application Sequence
Ceiling First
Paint ceiling before walls. Drips and overspray land on unpainted walls.
Walls Second
Do all wall coats before touching trim. Easier to tape over dried wall paint.
Trim Last
Baseboards, door frames, window trim. Use semi-gloss. Remove tape after trim dries.
Professional Painting Technique
Cutting In (Brush Work)
- • Load brush 1/3 of bristle length
- • Start 2-3 inches from edge, brush toward edge
- • Create 3-4 inch wide band
- • Work in sections - keep wet edge
- • Cut in entire room before rolling (for consistency)
Rolling Technique
- • Load roller evenly - don't oversaturate
- • Roll in "W" pattern for even distribution
- • Work in 4' × 4' sections
- • Roll into wet cut-in edges (blend)
- • Don't press too hard - causes drips
- • Finish each section before moving to next
Pro Tip: Maintain a "wet edge" - always roll into area you just painted while it's still wet. Prevents lap marks.
Coat Timing & Requirements
Second Coat Decision: If primer-tinted properly and using quality paint, 2 coats should suffice. 3 coats needed if skipped primer or covering very dark colors.
Phase 5: Finishing & Cleanup
Removing Tape Properly
Critical Timing!
Remove tape when paint is dry to touch but not fully cured (1-2 hours after final coat). Too early = smears. Too late = paint peels off with tape.
• Pull tape at 45-degree angle
• Pull slowly and steadily
• Use razor blade to score if paint has dried
• Touch up any gaps with small brush
Final Inspection & Touch-ups
- • Inspect walls in natural daylight - check for missed spots
- • Look at walls from multiple angles - oblique light shows defects
- • Touch up any holidays (missed spots) with roller or brush
- • Check corners and edges carefully
- • Verify outlet covers fit properly before reinstalling
Cleanup & Storage
Cleanup:
- • Wash brushes/rollers immediately
- • Soap & water for latex paint
- • Mineral spirits for oil-based
- • Remove drop cloths carefully
Paint Storage:
- • Seal can tightly (hammer rim flat)
- • Store upside down (creates seal)
- • Label with room name & date
- • Keep for future touch-ups
Common Mistakes to Avoid
❌ Don't Do This:
Skipping prep work
Poor prep = poor results. Always.
Using cheap paint
Requires 3-4 coats. Buy quality paint.
Not enough paint
Running out mid-project causes lap marks.
Wrong roller nap
Smooth roller on texture leaves voids.
Painting too fast
Rushing causes drips, runs, and holidays.
✓ Do This Instead:
Spend time on prep
70% prep, 30% painting = professional results.
Invest in quality paint
2 coats quality greater than 4 coats cheap.
Calculate accurately
Use calculator. Add 10% waste factor.
Match roller to texture
Thicker texture = thicker nap.
Work methodically
Slow, consistent strokes. Maintain wet edge.
Cost Estimate: 12' × 14' Bedroom
Professional painter: $400-600 for same room (labor + materials). DIY saves $200-400.